Focus On: Influenza

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and infection can affect people differently. The National Institutes of Health reports the following statistics of a typical flu season:

Five to 20 percent of the United States population gets sick, more than 200,000 are hospitalized, and 36,000 die.

The most severe outcomes happen in people ages 65 years and older, very young children, and those with underlying health conditions.

Globally there are three to five million cases of severe influenza and up to 500,000 deaths.

The single best way to prevent against the flu is yearly vaccinations. The NIH recommends that everyone six months or older gets a flu vaccine every season. Universal vaccination will expand protection to more people, but it is particularly important for those at high risk of serious complications. This includes anyone with a chronic illness, children younger than five years, adults 65 years or older, pregnant women and nursing home residents.

To learn more about influenza, and to keep yourself and those around you healthy this season, please explore the content below.